Who purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1927, before Tony Hulman's later ownership?

Eddie Rickenbacker purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1927, before Tony Hulman later became its owner. Rickenbacker bought the track from founding owner Carl Fisher on November 1, 1927, for $700,000.

Rickenbacker was already famous as a World War I fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient, and he brought that aviation background into his management of the Speedway. During his ownership, he promoted improvements and helped expand the facility’s public profile, including the first radio broadcast of the Memorial Day 500.

His tenure lasted through the difficult years of the Great Depression and into World War II. After the 1941 race, the Speedway was closed to conserve fuel and rubber for the war effort. Rickenbacker eventually sold it in 1945 to Terre Haute businessman Anton “Tony” Hulman Jr.

A common mix-up is Carl Fisher, who founded the Speedway and owned it before Rickenbacker. Wilbur Shaw was a celebrated driver and later Speedway president, but he was not the 1927 purchaser. Arthur Newby was another early Speedway figure, not its buyer in that transaction.